REPORTS OF GEOLOGISTS. lxxxi 



diate flats west toward Finlay, and a part of the Quitman Mountains to the 

 south, with the foothills southeast. 



The absolute dryness of the Rio Grande, and the absence of springs or 

 other water sources, compelled me to abandon for the time the contemplated 

 removal of the camp to the river; and in consequence the completion of the 

 topography of the Quitman Mountains, and indeed of all the hills, mountains, 

 and flats close to the river and distant from the railroads. 



I therefore removed my camp to Eagle Flat on October 15, where I got 

 water, partly from the section house cistern and partly from an old prospect 

 hole in the foothills of the Sierra Diabolo. 



From this camp I connected with the topographical work done from Sierra 

 Blanca east, extending the same in a north and northeast direction toward 

 the Sierra Diabolo and to the longitude of Torbert, and east to the railroad 

 track of the Southern Pacific Railroad. 



After having removed the camp from Eagle Flat, on the Texas and Pacific 

 Railroad, to the Southern Pacific Railroad, six miles west from Torbert, I be- 

 gan mapping the topography of the foothills north of the Eagle Mountains, 

 and of the Devil's Ridge, a series of Cretaceous hills and cliffs west of the 

 Eagle Mountains, and the country between these and the Quitman Mountains. 



Just after New Year's, having received the long-expected, base-bars, I 

 began the measurement of a base line in the flat, six miles west of Torbert, 

 on the north, and 200 feet off from the track of the Southern Pacific Rail- 

 road. After training an insufficient number of men (it was impossible to get 

 more help), I laid down a line, which, when corrected for inclination, contrac- 

 tion, and expansion by thermometrical changes, measured 6400.70070 metres. 



I set stones at both ends of the base lines. The starting point and end of 

 the line are marked by iron pins in holes bored in the stones and filled with 

 lead. Both these stones, and a third one at a distance of 100 feet west of the 

 east end of the line, are protected by a covering of rocks piled over them. 



From this line I began to take triangles to points which I thought of 

 greatest importance for future topographical work, but avoided any attempt 

 to lay triangles of the first order, or of taking any long sides, since the instru- 

 ment at my disposal (a good field transit, of Gurley's make), is not sufficiently 

 delicate for such work. I took a number of observations up to the time that 

 the setting in of sand and snow storms rendered field work impossible. 



The instruments were carefully boxed up, and with other implements were 

 left with the justice of the pea.ce at Sierra Blanca. I then took the animals 

 to Fort Davis, where I turned them loose on the range of Capt. Dolan, 

 mayor of Fort Davis; paid off the drivers, and left with the assistants for 

 headquarters. 



W. von STREERUWITZ, 



Geologist. 



B* 



